Chapter 55
Stopping abruptly in the middle of the hallway, Zoe tilted her head to look at Frederick.
“Frederick, I think I just saw Maeve in the hospital. Is she feeling unwell p>
Frederick’s head snapped toward her. “Where did you see her p>
“In the garden behind the building,” Zoe replied innocently.
The garden?
Frederick narrowed his sharp eyes, his hand immediately moving toward his pocket to grab his phone.
Watching his reaction, Zoe quickly added, “But I’m not entirely sure. I might have just imagined it p>
Frederick’s hand paused, and he slowly pulled it back from his pocket.
Zoe took in his hesitation perfectly, then deliberately glanced at the waiting room monitor.
“It’s my turn p>
“Could you hold my bag for a second? I need to go in.” She handed her purse to him, the corners of her lips curling up into a victorious smirk the second she turned around.
Frederick was a deeply paranoid man.
She didn’t need to spell it out for him; planting the seed of doubt was more than enough.
She wasn’t entirely sure if Maeve had tracked her down out of suspicion or had merely stumbled upon her meeting with Tristan.
But tipping Frederick off guaranteed he would investigate Maeve’s motives.
Naturally, regardless of what he uncovered, the moment he verified Maeve was secretly at the hospital at the same time as them, his paranoia would convince him that Maeve was acting out of jealousy and trying to harm her.
With that, the rift between him and Maeve would deepen irreparably. Every possible outcome worked perfectly in her favor.
Panting heavily, Maeve sat in the back of the taxi, finally allowing herself to catch her breath.
She pulled off her cap to fan herself, staring at her empty camera. It was a shame she hadn’t gotten the shot of Tristan, but it wasn’t a total loss.
At the very least, she had captured Frederick treating Zoe with doting affection, giving her more leverage for the divorce.
The taxi eventually pulled up in front of Yvette’s studio.
Maeve got out, greeted Yvette briefly, and headed straight into the lounge to change back into her regular clothes.
When she stepped back out to the workbenches, she spotted Jonathan Giles.
“Jonathan she said, surprised. “What brings you here p>
Jonathan looked equally taken aback.
“I was in the area and decided to drop by. I didn’t expect to see you, but it’s perfect timing. I was actually hoping to speak with you p>
With her?
Maeve looked confused. Catching her expression, Jonathan quickly explained.
“A few of my lawyer friends smelled the custom incense you made for me, and they absolutely loved it They want to commission you to make some for them, and they’re more than willing to pay p>
Doing something she loved and getting paid for it? Maeve’s eyes lit up instantly, though a flicker of nervous insecurity quickly followed.
“Do… do you really think I’m good enough p>
Jonathan chuckled. “Are you questioning my taste and the taste of my colleagues p>
Maeve thought about it—Jonathan and his friends were highly educated professionals. If they liked her work enough to ask for a referral, they had to be genuine.
Encouraged, her confidence returned, and she offered him a radiant, beaming smile.
“I’ll do my absolute best! I promise I won’t let your friends down p>
Jonathan was slightly dazzled by the brilliance of her smile, a sudden, inexplicable dryness catching in his throat.
He quickly averted his gaze, his breathing growing faintly heavier.
Oblivious to his reaction, Maeve remembered the photos she had faken over the past two days. She pulled the camera from her bag and stepped a little closer to him
“Jonathan, about what I mentioned last time. I wanted to p>
Bang! The partially open door was suddenly violently pushed wide.
Maeve’s head snapped up. Frederick stood in the doorway, his chiseled features looking dangerously predatory cast in the shadows.
His imposing, broad-shouldered frame commanded the entire entrance. A suffocating wave of dominance rolled off him, making the spacious studio feel instantly dreadfully claustrophobic.